Attributed to Town & Emanuel, an important, William IV brass inlaid figured rosewood kneehole writing table, c1830. The top is inlaid with contre partie scenes of winged cherubs, fantastic creatures and strolling musicians within a formal framework in the style of Jean Berain.

Fitted five drawers arranged around a central kneehole, on bold footless cabriole legs with similar inlaid decoration. 122 cm long x 68.5 cm deep x 84 cm overall height, 60.5 knee height.

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Lot 151, Sotheby’s Ariane Dandois sale, 25 October 2007, New York,.

Lot 37, Christie’s, The Lord White of Hull sale 16 October 1998

Lot 213, Sotheby’s 7^th April 1990, New York

Lot 320 Sotheby’s 7^th-8^th June 1985, New York

Lot 75 Christie’s 29^th November 1984, London

Illustrated, G. Beard and J. Goodison “English Furniture 1500-1840” p.275 fig.3.

This desk exemplifies the aristocratic taste for French designs of the ancien regime and the revival of 'buhl' patterns based on prototypes by royal ebeniste Andre-Charles Boulle and the designs of Jean Berain. The desk is attributed to the London firm of Town & Emanuel, dealers, manufacturers and restorers working at 103 New Bond Street from 1830 until the sale of their stock in 1849. Their printed trade label advertised the firm as 'Manufactureres of Buhl Marqueterie, Riesner & Carved Furniture, Tripods, Screens &. of the Finest & Most Superb Designs of the Times of Louis 14th...' (reproduced in F.Collard, 'Town & Emanuel', Furniture History, 1996, p.82, fig.1). The inlaid design of the top relates closely to that on a writing-table at Hinton Ampner, Hants (see C.Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p.451, figs.905-906). Another virtually identical writing-table was probably supplied to the 2nd Marquess of Exeter for Burghley House (illustrated in F.Collard, op.cit., p.85, fig.5). Other cabinetmakers inspired by Boulle prototypes include Thomas Parker of Air Street and Louis Le Gaigneur of Edgware Road, both of whom supplied furniture to George IV.

A French prototype of this basic form and decoration in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London is illustrated in C. Parker, Paris Furniture by the Master Ebenistes, Newport, England, 1956, fig.2.

Credit: Messrs Christie’s

Condition Report

The top shows some undulation due to movement of the ground timber, this has caused some fine cracks in the surface of the top, one of the broad brass borders has sprung up but can be pressed down, the glue has lost its grip of this strip.

Slight dents to the brass mouldings.

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